Suche
Mein Konto
Fraud case on Lake Constance: Wrong art dealer drawn!
In the Lake Constance district, an investigation is underway against a fake art dealer for fraud in almost 140 cases.
Fraud case on Lake Constance: Wrong art dealer drawn!
A case of serious fraud is currently causing a stir in the Lake Constance region. Investigations are underway against a 52-year-old who is suspected of having defrauded artists in almost 140 cases. [Suedkurier] reports that the Langenargen police and the Ravensburg public prosecutor's office are involved in the investigation and the alleged damage amounts to almost 900,000 euros.
The fraudster, who posed as an art dealer, contacted artists via social networks and offered them various services. Many artists paid around 2,000 euros each in advance and handed over valuable works of art for supposed exhibitions and vernissages. But the artists' expectations were bitterly disappointed because the accused did not fulfill the agreed contractual conditions in a single case. So it happened that the artists not only lost their money, but also their works of art.
The search
The investigators found what they were looking for during searches: over 200 works of art and paintings were seized, which were stored in various rooms in Lindau, Kressbronn and Friedrichshafen. Parts of these extraordinary finds have already been returned to artists who suffered damage. But the question remains as to how such a large-scale fraud could have occurred.
An exciting aspect of this story is the husband of the main suspect, who is also under suspicion. The 57-year-old is accused of concealing the flow of money through various accounts in around two dozen cases. It is suspected that he played an active role in this criminal activity and may even have supported his wife's fraud scheme.
The legal background
What exactly is cheating, you might ask? According to [Wiktionary] the term is derived from “betroc” and includes deception and fraud. This particular case shows how far people are willing to go to get other people's money.
The investigations clearly show that art is not only a passion, but also a business that is often permeated by unfair methods. If we look at the legal consequences, the main suspect could face a long prison sentence if the allegations are substantiated.
In the meantime, it remains to be seen how the situation will develop. Authorities are working to identify all those injured and return their artwork. However, a bad aftertaste remains for the artists affected, because trust is harder to repair than a painted picture.